I have previously written about two of the biggest benefits of yoga I've personally experienced: relief from back pain and sustainable weight loss. These benefits alone are enough to keep me doing yoga forever. Through the years I've received many other health benefits from yoga. What are yoga's many other health benefits?

The list of health and wellness benefits of yoga continues to grow. Many studies are being conducted to validate yoga's reported healing power. Just recently I read about a study that demonstrated improved balance and stability in women over 65 after just nine weeks of basic yoga practice. Added unexpected benefits identified during this study by Temple University included greater self-confidence and improved mood.

The list of yoga's health benefits is long and comprehensive, offering benefits to all aspects of you - your body, your mind, and your spirit. Here's just a partial list of the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits reported by those who practice yoga:

• Increased strength, flexibility, and balance


• Decreased pain


• Better Posture


• Increased circulation and blood flow


• Improved concentration, focus, and memory


• More energy and endurance


• Diminished anxiety and depression


• Elevated mood and sense of well-being


• Sustained weight loss


• Enhanced metabolism


• Stronger immune system


• Improved sleep


• Increased range-of-motion


• Better breathing


• Relief from stress and its symptoms


• Lower blood pressure


• Better hand-eye coordination


• Greater self-acceptance


• Improved mood


• Better hormone management


• Improved body awareness


• Improved digestion and elimination

Yoga can offer a wide range of symptom relief associated with many conditions and diseases including:

• Anxiety


• Asthma


• Arthritis


• Back pain


• Cancer


• Depression


• Diabetes (Type 2)


• Heart Disease


• Menopause


• Multiple Sclerosis


• Osteoporosis

You don't have to do much yoga to begin realizing these benefits. Even a few minutes a day of simple stretching and focused breathing can do a lot to begin improving your overall health and wellness.